Golf club



J. VERDERBER GOLF CLUB July l2, 19419.

3 Sheets-Sheet' l Filed May 31, 1945..

R ma m NB N ER R VN. m mm T V. A H P E. S OIM J Y B N lvm /r l/ fd /1 ////MW/ f l// July'lZ, 1949. J. VERDERBER A GOLF QLUB Fild May 31, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 12, 1949. `v.1. VERDI-:REER

GOLF CLUB 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 51, 1945 ATTORNEY of this specification,

Patented July 12 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE y.2,475,927 GOLF CLB Joseph Verderber, Cleveland,'0hio Applieatioii'May 31, 1945,'seia'1N. `5296,83'9

This 'invention relates, as indicated, to golf clubs, but has'ieferenceiiioie particularly to adyjusta-lele length shafts 'for-such clubs.

In my @pending-application.Serial No.'58390 2, `I have described golf'elubshaving angularly ad- -justalole heads. A

In order to utilizesueii clubs to the best ad'- vvantage, I i'ihd'lt highlydesirableto piovidemeans `for adjusting tne'leiigtn'of the shaft, and'it is a primary object of this invention to provide suon means.

Another object ofthe 'invention is to' Vprovide vmeans `iifnereloy the handle or' gripped' portion ofthe club may be nio'ved relatively to the shaft ofthe club, in order to'- vary the eieotive 'length of the club.

Another object of the invention is vto provide means tightly locking or wedgi'rig lthe nandlein adjusted position, whereby any tendency of the the cliib is effectively precluded.

A Still fith' 'blei O'f th infho iS t0 provide meansfor quickly and easily setting or releasing the aforesaid 'handle locking means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide stop means for determining the extreme liinits of adjustment of the handle.

Other objects and'advantages of the invention will be apparent during Ythe course of the following description.

yI'n.` the accompanying drawingsforming a part and in wh-ich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout 4tht same,

l Fig.- 1 is a Vfragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of a golf clulik shaft, showing theshaft fully ltelescoped into vthe handle, making the shaft as' short as possible;

Fig. 2'is a View similar to Fig. 1, but with the handle in itsv most extended position;

Fig 3 is a View, on an venlarged scale', of a portion eflig. 1;

Fig. 41s a fragmentary elevational View of the upper` end of the club shaft;

Fig.` 5i ifs a cross-sectional' View taken oni the Iline 5;-5v of Fig. 4;

F'ig I6V is' a side elevational View of the handle .lfo'c'king tube ;l

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View, taken on the line'l Tl of Fig. 4;

Fig. '8' is a cross-sectional View, taken on the line iii-3`v of Fig. 3';

Fig. 9b is a cross-sectional View, taken on the line 9f*=91of Fig. 3;

Fig. l10 is afeiiosse'sectieiiai talil on the une noemer-Figo;

Fig. 11 isa View similar tcl-Figi 1,biit vshowing amodii'icatioii-ditiie invention;

Fig. fin is aviewfsiiniIaf-to Figa het of r'nodied fri fftlie iiivn-tion,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary eleifatinalvietifvf the uppef--eiidofthe liihs'naft ef trie' niedied'forin of the invention;

Fig. '1611s'a-iosseseetiiial View, taken on `the Fig'. 17 is a view siiilila'rftd Fig. s, 'but showing for preventing ieiatii/e rotation tetti/'eeh the various' aitsrngitjstint the handle or use of-tifeelub: Fig. 18 Vis aa'eidss-*sectiai view, taken oii the linelsls ofFig. 1'75 rtg. 19 is a -p'ers'petive view-of plug shown inne-1s: s t.

2i 's' y i; ress f's'eel-Jilinal View, taken on the line 21:21 of Fig. 26, and' Eig. 22 is a perspective View of the plug shtn elusive, refereiieeiiiimeia'l l designates thelilpe'r Vportie-h of tutelar metallic vshaft of a golf eiiib having af series ei eiieurfei'entallyspaeeci longitudihaliyeegteflding parallel slots 2 theieiri, afljacent th'e pp'ei" end f tle Shaft, these' slots facilitating outware `sisiea'ding of the walls of the shaft in the regioh'jf thes'lbts.

secured i'vitl'ii the shaft l at a predetermined dista-nee from tlie iiliar vend of thesiiaft is a stofp plfig having enaxial nassa'g'evifay a theiethroiigh, the plug heine rigidly held irl isostieh by irre-ans o'f a plurality of iiideritatioiss'ifi the-shaft, which lindenta`;'i,io`r'1s` ic'tf "into celspoding j r'ec'esses in the outer' wall 'ofthe elite, as eleafly shewh in Figs. 3 and 10. The function of this lfg' Will' here'- iiiaiter appear.

The uppei bonnen ofwtiie shaft l y estend stel-escopieally' frito a Hanni-e or grip* I6v tiefer bly formed of ai plastan ha lf a niet lie'ferrule 1 secured tolits' levier iena, the shaft" nt'ting snugly againstjjthej"ylin'dlcal' inner Wall of the handle; 'nfhadlfe; iii a-'eeordanee with tonven'tiorial tif'ae'tiee, 'a' tapered utei wall.

Secured to the upper end of the handle 6, as by means of a set screw 8, is a disc-like member 9 having an extension I of reduced diameter which extends into the upper end of the handle and has an annular groove II in its outer wall, into which the set screw 8 extends, the set screw bearing against the bottom of the groove to lock the member 9 against rotation relatively to the handle. The outer face of the member 9 has an arcuate recess or groove I2 therein, which is concentric with the axis of the member 9.

The member 9 has an axial bore I3 therein, through which the upper end of a rod I4 extends, the rod having a threaded end portion which is secured as by a pin I5, to a button I6, provided with a knob I1 for facilitating rotation of the button I6 relatively to the member 9, the button being disposed in contact with the member 9. The button I6 is provided with a screw I8, having an unthreaded portion I9 of reduced diameter,

which extends into the arcuate groove or recess I2 in the member 9.

The rod I4 has a lower portion 28 of somewhat enlarged diameter, the ends of which are oppositely threaded and in threaded engagement with a pair of spreader plugs 2| and 22, having conical outer walls, which confront each other, as shown in Fig. 3.

Disposed within the shaft I, between the conical walls of the plugs 2| and 22, is a cylindrical spreader tube 23 having in each end thereof a series of circumferentially-spaced longitudinallyextending parallel slots 24, which facilitate spreading of the walls of the tube in the region of these slots. pered or beveled as at 25 to correspond to the taper of the walls of the plugs 2| and 22. The tapered ends 25 normally bear against the tapered walls of the plugs 2l and 22.

The club further includes a rod 2B of lesser diameter than the rod I4, and which is threadedly secured to the plug 2|, in axial alignment with the latter. The rod 26 is slidable in the stop plug 3, and has an end portion 21, of enlarged diameter, which is adapted to coact with the plug 3, for a purpose to be presently described.

Having thus described the construction of the club, the manner in which it is used will now be described.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the handle or grip 6 is shown in its most contracted position, in which the club is as short as it can possibly be made. This position is determined by the abutment of the plug 2| with the stop plug 3. In this position, the handle or grip is locked against axial movement relatively to the shaft I' of the club, due to the pressure exerted by the plugs 2| and 22 against the tapered ends 25 of the tube 23, this pressure being, in turn, transmitted to the walls of the shaft I and from these walls to the handle or grip 6, the handle or grip being in this manner frictionally locked to the shaft. The outward movement of the tube 23 and the shaft I resulting from this pressure is facilitated by the provision of the slots 2 in the shaft and the slots 2d in the tube 23.

When the handle or grip 6 is locked in the aforesaid manner, it will be noted that the screw I8|9 is disposed at one end of the groove I2 of the member 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

When it is desired to adjust the handle or grip 6 relatively to the shaft I, the handle is held in one hand, and the button I6 is rotated by means of the other hand in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, until the screw I8I9 The ends of the tube 23 are taabuts the end of the groove I2 shown at the right in Fig. 8. This causes the rod Ill-20 to be rotated, which, in turn, causes the spreader plugs 2| and 22 to recede from each other, relieving the pressure between these plugs and the tube 23, between the tube 23 and the shaft I', and between the shaft and the handle or grip 6, permitting the handle to be then moved to any desired position relatively to the shaft.

The handle may then be locked to the shaft by rotating the button I6 to the position indicated in Fig. 8.

The end portion 21 of the rod 25 coacts with the plug 3 to limit the extent of adjustment of the handle or grip 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. l1 to 16 inclusive, the construction is somewhat similar to that of the previously described form of the invention, but in this case, instead of using a metallic spreader tube, such as the tube 23, a tube 23 of rubber or other soft or resilient material is interposed between the shaft and the lower portion 2D of the rod I4 and is adapted to be engaged at its ends by means of spreader plugs 2|' and 22. The plugs 2| and 22', in this case, instead of being tapered, are cylindrical.

In Figs. 12 and 13, the handle o1' grip 5 is shown in its most extended position, in which the club is as long as it can possibly be made. This position is determined by the abutment of the end portion 21' of the rod 26 with the stop plug In this position, the handle or grip is locked against axial movement relatively to the shaft I' of the club, due to the pressure exerted by the plugs 2|' and 22 against the ends of the tube 23', this pressure causing the tube 23 to be contracted axially and the rubber of the tube to be bulged radially outwardly into frictional engagement with the inner wall of the shaft. This pressure, in turn, is transmitted by the shaft to the handle or grip, so that the grip becomes frictionally locked to the shaft,

In order to lessen the friction of the tube 23' on the inside wall of the shaft I', the tube 23 may, if desired, be provided with a facing or external -cover in the form of a split tube or tubing of steel or other metallic material. Such a cover will preferably be vulcanized or otherwise permanently secured to the rubber tube 23.

When it is desired to adjust the handle or grip relatively to the shaft, this is accomplished in the same manner as described in connection with the preferred form of the invention.

The plug 2| coacts With the plug 3 to limit the extent of adjustment of the handle or grip, as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

Due to the fact that the groove II is an annular groove, the member 9 may be reset, as desired to change the location of the ends of the groove I2 relatively to the set screw 8, for the purpose of compensating for wear between the tapered plugs and associated parts of the club.

It is thus seen that I have provided a golf club having a novel adjustable handle whereby the effective length of the club or club shaft may be varied in an efficient and highly desirable manner, and in which the handle may be locked by a wedging action to prevent displacement thereof during use of the club.

While in most cases, it is unnecessary to provide means for preventing relative rotation between the handle of the club and the shaft, it is desirable and necessary to provide such means in cases where the club handle is provided with a flat area for aiding in properly gripping the club,

In such cases, it is :necessary to maintain the proper relation between the flat spot on the handle and the club head, irrespective of the adjustment of the handle.

For'this purpose, I have'shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19 lmeans'forpreventing'relative rotation between the club handle, the shaft, one of the tapered plugs and the spreader tube.

In Figs. 17, '18 and 19, theplug 22 is provided with a radially-extending'key.30, which extends into one of the slots '24 of'thespreadertube 23, las well as into a longitudinal slot or keyway 3| in the shaft I and a longitudinal slot or keyway 32 in the handle 6. The location of the slots 3l and 32 is such as to permit a wide range of longitudinal adjustment of the handle relatively to the shaft, and irrespective of such adjustment, the key 36 is effective to prevent rotation between the parts 22, 23, I and 6.

Similar means for preventing relative rotation between the club handle, the shaft and one of the plugs is shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22. In this case, the plug 22' is provided with a radiallyextending key 3d', which extends into a slot 3| in the shaft l as well as into a longitudinallyextending slot or keyway 32 in the handle 6. The location of the slots 3| and 32 is such as to permit a wide range of longitudinal adjustment of the handle relatively to the shaft, and irrespective of such adjustment, the key 30 is effective to prevent rotation .between the parts 22', l and 6.

It is understood, of course, that the rotation preventing means of Figs. 17 to 22 inclusive is applicable to all clubs, of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive, irrespective of whether or not the handles of these clubs are provided with the flat areas referred to above.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangements of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l.. In a golf club, a hollow shaft, a handle slidably mounted on said shaft, concentric therewith, a threaded element rotatably mounted within said handle, threaded means on lsaid element, responsive to rotation of said element, disposed within said shaft for frictionally interlocking said handle and shaft at selected positions of effective length, and means carried by said handle for limiting the extent of rotation in each direction of said element.

2. In a golf club, a hollow shaft, a handle slidably mounted on said shaft concentric therewith, means disposed within said shaft for fricticnally interlocking said shaft and handle at selected positions of effective length, an element rotatably mounted within said handle and threadedly engaging said means for selectively actuating said interlocking means, and means carried by said handle for limiting the extent of rotation of said element.

3. In a golf club, a hollow shaft, a handle slidably mounted on said shaft, said handle being axially movable relatively to the shaft to vary the effective length of the club, means disposed within said shaft for frictionally interlocking the handle and shaft, said means comprising a radially expansible tubular member, threaded plugs engaging with the ends of said member, the threads of one plug being of opposite hand to thoseof the other yplug, meansin threaded `er1- gagement Awith said plugs and Yadapted/When yrotatedfin one direction to cause saidplugsi to simultaneously'move-'toward each other and, when lrotated in vthe opposite direction, 'to -cause Vsaid plugs to simultaneouslyrecedeffrom eachother, and means-carried by -saidhandle forI limiting the extent of rotation in each direction of said'second-named means. f

4. In a golf club, a hollow shaft, a handle mounted on said shaft, 'said handle being axially movable `relative to theshaft to vary the effective length of the club, an expansible member having opposite ends contained within said shaft, threaded plugs engaging the ends of said member, a threaded element in engagement with said plugs and operable to move said plugs to expand said member when said element is rotated in a selected direction, whereby said handle and shaft are frictionally interlocked against movement relatively to each other, and means carried by said handle for limiting the extent of rotation in each direction of said element.

5. A combination, as defined in claim 4, in which said expansible member comprises a metallic sleeve.

6. A combination, as defined in claim 4, in which said expansible member comprises a resilient non-metallic cylinder.

7. A combination, as dened in claim 4, in which said expansible member comprises a rubber cylinder.

8. In a golf club, the combination of a handle, a hollow shaft slidably mounted within said handle and extensible axially therefrom, said shaft having a radially expansible portion, and means contained within said shaft for selectively applying radial pressure to said expansible portion whereby to frictionally interlock said handle and said shaft at predetermined positions of extension of said shaft and means carried by the handle for moving said pressure applying means.

9. In a golf club, the combination of a handle, a hollow shaft slidably mounted Within said handle and extensible axially therefrom, said shaft having a slotted portion provided thereon, said slotted portion being adapted to expand into frictiona1 engagement with said handle when radial pressure is applied thereto, and means contained within said shaft for selectively applying radial pressure to said slotted portion of said shaft whereby to frictionally interlock said handle and said shaft at predetermined positions of extension of said shaft.

10. A combination, as dened in claim 9, in which said means comprise a radially expansible member, and means carried by the handle for expanding said member.

11. A combination, as defined in claim 9, in which said means comprises a radially expansible, tubular member, plugs engaging the ends of said member, and means for adjustably changing the distance between said plugs.

12. A combination, as defined in claim 9, in which said means comprises a radially expansible tubular member, plugs engaging the ends of said member, and a rotatable element in threaded engagement with said plugs, whereby rotation of said element in one direction causes radial expansion of said member and rotation of said element in the opposite direction relieves said radial expansion.

13. A combination, as defined in claim 9, in which said means comprise a radially expansible tubular member, threaded plugs engaging the 7 ends of said member, the threads of one plug being of opposite hand to those of the other plug, and a rotatable element in threaded engagement with said plugs, whereby rotation of said element in one direction causes said plugs to move toward each other and rotation of said element in the opposite direction causes said plugs to recede from each other.

JOSEPH VERDERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rusing Jan. 14, 1936 Pester Aug. 31, 1937 Hamilton Feb. 8, 1938 Moore Dec. 24, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 26, 1938 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1938 

